Storage battery



V. C. GOODRIDGE STORAGE BATTERY Filed Jan. 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll atented July 3, W24,

"means VICTGR CLAUDE GODDRIDGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T GO ODRIDGE BAT- TERY 00., A CORPORATION OF IILIILJI].\TOL

,s'ronaen BATTERY.

Application filed. January 23, 1922.

To cZZ wiwiniz't may concern:

resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage Batteries, of which the :t'ollowing is a specification. 7

This invention relates to improvements in storage batteries of the wet type, heretofore essentially consisting of skeleton plates Ill forming grids or lattice-work, composed of lead or lead alloy, on the surfacesof some of which is an active positive material, and on others an activenegative material previ ously deposited on said grids, which positive and negative plates are alternately arranged in and suspended a short distance above the bottom of a lead-lined battery box tilled with sulphuric acid and respectively se 'mrated by wooden partitions rising from the bottom of the box, and of which plates all of the positive plates are connected together, as are also the negative plates.

The object of my invention broadly stated, is to produce a low resistance, non-sparking light and indestructible wet battery, which if the surplus electrolyte is poured out or evaporates is adapted to be suci-ressi i'llly used as a dry battery.-

More specifically stated, the invention is a battery, provided with containers adapted to enclose, separate and isolate without in isolating one of the two active materials therein from the other. 7

A further object of my invention is he production of a wet battery, the construction of which is such that it is possible and practicable to apply the positive and nega tive active materials respcctively,-to the electrodes in their operative positions in a bat iii tery after the battery completely and permanently assembled for use, and to dispense with the use of independent and costly leadlined forming tanks and electric currents for making such deposits on the electrodesbefore their assemblage in a-battery, and in so doing to thereby eliminate the possibility of producing plates so interior as to be usable only in batteries which are seconds or are so interior that they have to be scrapped.

A further object of my invention is to sue rt-ssfully"prevent any disintegration of the plates in a battery, the breakimiaip of any of the active mater als and their dislodg- Serial No. 531,120.

ment from the plates, either by the alternate contraction and expanslon of the active material, due to charging, or discharging or to overcharging" the battery or the buckling of V the plates, especially in batteries used for automobile work, or under other conditions producing vibrations tending to quickly loosen and discharge the active materials from the plates and their deposit on the bottom of the battery box between the plates in quantities sufficient to'etiect a gradual shortciiing of the plates, short circuit the electric current or-reduce the normal capacity of the battery to deliver a stated number of ampere hours and thereafter finally render the bat tery useless.

A further object. of my inventionis to provide a wetbattery which can suffer no injury from becoming dr Y and which cannotpossibly spark between the plates when the electrolyte'becomes low in the cell, which sparking is not infrequently the cause o'l disastrous explosions in mines or in any place where explosive gases are present; and also to provide a battery, the construction and operation of which are such that the constant attention heretofore required for keeping the plates covered with electrolyte is dispensed with in its entirety.

Another Ol3](3Cl3 of my invention is to substantially and materially reduce the amount of lead, the weight and cost of the construction of a battery to a minimum and at the same time increase its ampere hours to a maximum.

With these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said ob jects and certain other objects areattained, all as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accom ninying drawings and now particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the invention on line 11 of Fig. 2.

F ig. 2 is a sectional vow of the invention on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the receptacle used in connection with the invention.

Fig. 4 is atop view of one form of electrode employed in connection with the in- ,vention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of such electrode. Fig. 6 1s a top view of another'forin of I vent tube employed in. connec the electrode used in connection with the in vention.

Fig. 7 is a side View of suco electrode, and

Fig. 8 is a. view partly in section of the '..n with the invention.

In carrying out invention, 1 may eznploy a receptacle Ii oi any suitable material, preferably herd rubber, but nniy he of glass, provided with a groove 2, adjacent the ui'ipor edges thereof, whicn groove extends around the interior walls of the receptacle, ssid'receptacle being also provided with Sj'JflClZlg or holding members 3 preferably located in the hottoln thereof, as shown in the drawing.

Disposed Within the receptacle 1 are containers at, such. containers being of any snitnble size and. shape and of any suitable porous material, consisting oi blotting paper or other suit-ahle manufactured ineterisl, as distinguished from natural wood in which the pores might not freely coin- Inunicate which may be sealed by means of peratlin on any suitable sealing mixture preteinhly applied to opposite ends thereof.

The, bottoms of the ctmtziiners at are pref eirohly disposed between the members as shown in Fig. 1., for preventing" their lateral movement Within said receptacle, but any ether-suitable spacing ineaiiis may he provided for locating the containers in their operative position in the receptacle.

Each of the containers 4' is filled. with suitable positive eleotro-activematerial 5, and the receptacle with a. suitable negative electro-oetivc material (3, surrounding the containers 4.

Disposed opposite s d of the battery are tern'iinnls 7 end. the teri'a'iinal T hein shown as l'lttfilllg' n plurality of which may he round hut are preferably flat or angular in cross-section, and which respectively correspond in number with their new st and are adapted to project into th iiiners and said electro-ectire Il'll l1l.-l o. The negative terminals 8' similar to positive terminals *5, except that the negative terminal T is preferably provided with either one less or one more leg than the positive terminal, all of the legs of hotn of which terminals adopted to th electro-aetive ineteri containers 4.. Tllfltfiit 1 I as many as there are containers Within the receptacle. the or" ngcn'ient heing that one of the ti nals has lee-e dis seal within the containers and the o its legs disposed sist oi plastic masses 0. w H

oeconie suost" ntielly curing the con nnecs and fl-a in hey one e @15 q r. untiinll tl'ienct Electrolyte 6 is shown in the drawings covering the electro-uctive material, hut such electrolyte may he removed if it is desired to use the battery in a. dry condition, Without impairing theetliciency of-the battery.

The legs for each of the terminals are connected by a suitable bridge- 9, upon which the terminals 7 and 8 are mounted and project outside of the battery. The terminals may be respectively )rovided with collars ill 11.. and slots 12.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a. cover 13 is adapted to rest on the hridgesQ, and on the cover 1.3 is placed a plastic material 14, which surrounds the terminals.

The material 14- after hardening is held in position by the groove 2, as shown in Fig. l, retaining the terminals securely in position by means of engagement with the collars and 11, the slots 12 furnishing a con venient rneans for wiring to the terminals.

A vent tube 15 coninninicetes with the interi r of the battery and. isylrovided with apertures 16 and a perforated cap 1?, which .tuhe n iy he tilled with. Water and seryes to dispense moisture to the battery, to exhaustgases tl'ierefrom, and to provide-means for the insertion oi a. testing instrnineiit when desired. which vent tube, al owever, may be omitted Without a substantial denurture from my invention.

For the construction of a. battery in which my invent-ion finds embodiment, he containers first secured hyenysuitshle menus in their operative positimns in the.

battery box therefor, as are also the electrodes and the vent tube, if one be used, the

containers heing' already fillcclwi red-lend. The spaces between the containers and. the hate; y her: with ergo in the form of a. hiir-tleningr stiil' paste oy respeetiyely mixing them --with sulphuric acid, or any other material suitehle the -eater.

s shown in the iitrewiiigs, the level of comparatively;

it in practice both metern me the same level throughout for gig itorni y sustaining their projecting ends against wreaking" down.- i

liollowing the nl hot-cloning of these. materials, electrol te is introd' ced until its levelis just lOSiDW' the block 9 there "after the ec 'ecflt is inserted and secured in distance helow the upper end: of the "hers, which level in the containers may ntly shove the stljecent spmes, preierehly its operative position, moon n the tlrewinc-s.

end the he y l iniigetl, end when es-oases for any reason it. is desirable to use it as a dry battery, the electrolyte above the hardened materials is poured oil by removiii the cap 17 or else another ca i closing a. i L 7 l to spy ivet buttery, wherein the containers for the electrodes and the space surrounding the containers are filled, for a substantial portion of their depth, respectively vvith active materials in a solid state, or wherein the nmterials are of sutlicient solidity to rigidly maintain the containers of a battery in their operative position against the possibility of their bending or liluckling in the slightest degree, and are so closely related with reference to the electrolyte therefor that the presence but a limited amount of the electrolyte is necessary for the successful operation of thehattery, and an amount so small that it may he quickly discheroed therefrom to convert the battery into a dry battery that may be used as such, before resupplying the electrolyte. The term solid, as herein employed, does not apply to electrode materials of comminuted form, the particles out which are capable of independent motions, but only to electrode materials in which the masses are substantially coherent throughout.

In short, my invention includes any storage battery which dispenses with gridplete terminals, as heretofore employed, which battery is unaffected by its complete discharge; which will not spark between the terminals when in a partially discharged. condition; which may he used in the same manner as dry and wet batteries have heretofore heen used, and is not injured on hecomlug dry, and which, although containing less lead and being siilhstantially lighter than heretofore, is so strongly and compactly made as to wholly resist disintegration by vibration or from rough handling.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying; my invention into ellect, it is ccpahle of variation and modification Without deport.- ingl'roui the spiri of nvention. 1, therefore, do not Wish to he mited to the precise details of the construction. set forth, but esiie to avail myself or such. "varia ions and modifications es come within the r ape the appended claims.

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A iced-lead buttery, comprising in combination a receptacle, positive and negative active materials therein, and e container surrounding and adapted to enclose, separate and isolate one of said materials from the other, the receotucle, the active materials and the container eiug in sequential and ph vsical contact.

iced-lead hatter comprising in -omhinetion e. receptacle. positive and negative active materials therein, and a container surrounding and adapted to enclose. separate and isolate one of said materials from the other, the positive material btllltf in physical contact with the container and he receptacle.

8. A lead-lead buttery, comprising; in combination a receptacle. positive and ncfl'allvv active materials for said battery. and :1 con i tainer surrounding, separating and isolating one of said materials from the other, all in sequential contact the material ol which contaiuer is adapted to provide a substantially free and unobstru ted passage For an electric current through the electrolyte.

l. A lead-lead buttery, comprising in comliination a receptacle. substantially solid positive and negative active materials therein for said battery, and a container surrounding and adapted to separate but not insulate one of said materials from the other, the positive material heing ll. physical coutact with the container and the receptacle.

A storage hattcry, comprising in co1nbination a receptacle. "positive and negative active materials, a container for and in contact with the positive material and adapted to separate and isolate the positive material from the negative material and to provide a continuous space around said container for the negative active material.

6. A storage battery, comprising in combination. a receptacle, positive and negative materials, end containers contacting with the positive materiel SRIIOl'lDdlTlQ and adapted to separate and isolate one of said materials from the other and provide interconimunh eating spaces for the negative active mule rial, the material. of which container is porous to receive the electrolyte to thereby admit of the passage. of electric currents through the walls thereof.

A pgridless storage battery, con'lprisinp iIf-"EOHllJlHMiOIl a receptacle, positive and negative materials contained therein. a con tamer surrounding and adapted to separate then. and a terminal provided with legs imhedded in said materials and respectively secured therein in their operative positions for a suostentiel portion of their length.

8. A battery, comprising;- a recep- 'lll'ldglSlOlltllG one of said materials from the tecle, e, co; 'iner having a closed bottom end disposed on .11. said C1')ijilfiifi, solid el'ectro active material in and contacting with said container, and other solid electro-aetivs material continuously surrounding said container.

A storage battery, comprising a. rcccptaclc, a porous container disposed Within said receptacle, coherent mass of electroactive material in said container, and. a con-- tinuous solid mass of other eiectro-activo material surrounding said container and rigidly holding said container in its opera tive position.

10. A storage battery, comprising a re ceptacle, a porous container having a closed. bottom and disposed Within said reccptaole, means for positioning said container in said receptacle, QllECtll'OflCtlVE material in said container. and other electroactive material surrounding said container.

ll. A. storage battery, comprising a receptacle, a. porous container disposed within said receptacle, a substantially solid mass of electro-active material in said container,

a continuous mass of other electro-active nia terial surrounding said container, and electrolyte covering the electroactive material in said container and surrounding the same.

12. A gridlcss lead-lead storage battery, comprising a receptacle, a porous container disposed Within said receptacle. a mass of elcctronctive material in said container, a substantially solid mass of electro-active material continuously surrounding said containcr, and terminal legs disposed, one Within the material in said container, and the other within the material surrounding said container.

'l3.'A storage battery, coin 'irising 'a receptacle, a groove extending algout t'hc inner surface thereof, porous containers in said -1i1 said receptacle, elcctro-active material containers, other clectro-activc iiiaterial continuously surrounding said containers, a lid for said receptacle, and a scaling compound spread on said lid and engaging said groove.

14-. A gridless storage battery, comprising a receptacle, a groove extending about the inner surface of said receptacle, porous containers in said receptacle, ElQOtI'O-zIC'ClV8 n1aterial in said containers, other elcct1fo-iictive material surrounding said ci'mtaiucrs, termina legs engaging said clcctro-activo material in said receptacle and said containers, and a scaling compound engaging said groove and said electrodes for holding same in position. i

2.5. A gridless storage battery, comprising a receptacle, (Ulllttil'lel's in said receptacle, electro-activc material in said containers, other clectro-aetive material. surround-- ing said containers, terminal legs engaging said electro-active material in said re.- ceptacle and said containers, collars on said terminals, and a sealing con'ipouud engaging said collars and said receptacle 10 hold same in position.

16. A gridless storage, battery, coinprising a receptacle, containers in said receptacle, masses oi. clectro-active material in said containers, a substantially solid mass of other electro-active material surrounding said containers, terminal legs one of which legs is held in. said containers by the. ma teal therein, and the other of which is field between the containers by the material surrounding the same, and a sealing compound engaging said teri'ninal legs and said receptacle to hold same in position.

1'3. A gridlcss storage battery, comprising receptacle, a plurality of containers in said receptacle, electr c-active material in said containers, and other electronctive material. continuously surrounding said containers, a. termina baring members engaging the material in said containers, and an other terminal having its members engaging between said containers.

18. l-. gridless storage battery, comprising a receptacle, a plurality of containers in said receptacle, electro -acti'vo matcrisl in said containers, and other electronctive material continuously surrounding said containers, forked terminals one of which has its legs projecting into said containers and the other of which has its legs projecting between said. containers.

'19. A storage battery, comprising a receptacle, porous containers disposed Within.

said receptacle, a substantially solid mass of olectroactivc material in said containers, a substantially solid mass of other elec tro-active material surrounding said containcrs, terminal legs'onc of which is dis posed Within said containers and the other of which is disposed between said containers, means for sealing said battery, and a, vent tube communicating with the interior of said battery and having means for exiiaustiug gases therefrom and supplying moisture thereto.

20. A lead-lead battery, including segregated inasses of :tive material, a continu ous mass of active material common to all of said. segregated masses, and an electrolyte. Y

21. A gridlcss lead battery in Whiclrnon.

nially conductive active materials constitute the main path for the current.

A lead battery having all. of its solid elements fashioned into an non-comin'inutcd integral Whole.

v A lead battery containin continu--, ous porous electrode, another e .ectrodeembedded said continuous electrode, an electrolyte permeating said electrodes, and tor minuls for said electrodes, each. of said electrodes being integral. and formed of noncoininiiiuted material.

24. A lead battery having a. single porons trocle in which said electrodes are embedde i, negative element, a plurality of porous p'oSlan electrolyte permeating said electrodes,

tive elements, an intervening partition,- and and terminals for said electrodes. 31

an electrolyte filling the pores of said In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set,

5 elements. 7 my hand and afiixed my seal, this 21st day 25. A lead battery containing segregated of J enuary, 1922.

porous electrodes, a continuous porous elec- V R W W REE E- [n [M 

